فارسی
Born in Tehran’s Oudlajan neighborhood in 1943, Jahangir Sedeghatfar navigated life’s challenges from exile in the U.S. to becoming a celebrated architect, poet, and urban planner. His life is a journey from literature to architecture and back to poetry.
Early Life and Education
The family
Jahangir Sedeghatfar was born in 1943 in the Oudlajan neighborhood of Tehran into a devout Jewish family. His birth coincided with the end of World War II, during the Allies’ invasion of Eastern Europe and the occupation of Italy.
Although his parents had little formal education, their daily hard work and dedication to providing for their children’s welfare and upbringing were carried out with such affection and responsibility that Jahangir always attributes his success and progress in life to their efforts.
School education
Jahangir completed his primary education and the first cycle of secondary school at the Ettehad (Alliance) School. He then chose to study literature for the second cycle of high school at Dar ul-Funun but soon developed an interest in mathematics. Consequently, he switched his focus and completed the tenth grade at Merat High School, continuing his last two years at Kourosh High School.
University
For higher education, he applied for the architecture program at the University of Tehran through the national entrance exam. Despite his persistent efforts, he was unable to pass the exam and was forced to leave the country to continue his studies. In early 1963, after having worked for a few days to cover his living expenses, he enrolled in Queens College. In 1970, Jahangir Sedeghatfar earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture, and subsequently, in 1971, a bachelor’s degree in urban planning from Kent State University in Ohio.
Work
Jahangir immediately began working and teaching urban planning after graduation. In 1972, for certain reasons, he transferred from Kent State University to Hampton College’s School of Architecture in Virginia to continue teaching. At the same time, with the support of the university, he published his first research work titled “Entopia”, which focused on proper human settlement and creating a healthy living environment.
A year later, Hampton College released the second edition of this dissertation. The reception of the book was so great that it was translated and taught in some cultural centers and universities outside the United States.
Return to Poetry
Jahangir Sedeghatfar’s artistic talent and interest in Persian literature and poetry emerged during his adolescence, specifically when he was in the sixth grade. His essay teacher, while acknowledging the quality of his writings, predicted that he could one day become a good writer or poet.
Bialak Literary Association
His literary activities became more serious during his high school years with his membership in the “Bialak” Literary Association. Dr. Parviz Atabaki, the Persian literature teacher at Kourosh High School, confirmed the quality of Jahangir’s writings and encouraged him by gifting him various literary books for further study. During a meeting at Café Naderi, Dr. Atabaki also introduced him to the late Mahdi Akhavan-Sales, a contemporary poet.
Additionally, through the Bialak Association, Jahangir became acquainted with prominent figures like Professor Soleiman Haim. His first recitation at a gathering was met with appreciation, and he was awarded a collection of literary books. This event opened doors for him to join various literary associations and interact with poets such as “Jafar” and “Karo”.
Challenges in the U.S
Beginning his studies in exile in the U.S. overshadowed everything except his education. The responsibility of earning an income to cover living expenses and university fees on the one hand, and the overwhelming feelings of loneliness, estrangement, and detachment on the other, left him with little time to study or write poetry. Occasionally, he would play the violin and compose a few verses to soothe his loneliness. However, his passion for poetry diminished, and his creative energy began to fade. As he expressed: “I thought my creative drive had found a different material; disillusioned with words, I turned to iron, cement, and glass.”
Marriage
The year 1970 was a busy one for Jahangir. During a summer break, he returned to Iran after years of absence to visit his family, and during this time, he met his future wife, Janet, from the Noufer family. This acquaintance eventually led to marriage, resulting in a son named Nima and a daughter named Anahita. After the wedding, he and his wife returned to the U.S. so he could complete his higher education.
The Pardisan Project
In 1972, Jahangir received an invitation from the Minister of Science and Higher Education and Shiraz University to participate in scientific seminars and deliver lectures. His participation proved highly successful, leading to a proposal from the Department of Environment for him to design and construct a large park complex. This project, covering 300 hectares in the Farahzad area of northeast Tehran, was later renamed Pardisan Park.
This project, considered one of the largest parks in the Middle East, was fitting for the capital of ancient Iran, Tehran, and included educational centers, recreational facilities, an artificial lake, forested areas, botanical gardens, an aquarium, a modern zoo, natural history museums, and many other recreational and scientific amenities.
This became a turning point for Engineer Jahangir Sedeghatfar. Managing this project brought him into close contact with some of the most renowned designers, architects, and thinkers of that time. The initial foundation of this project in 1974 earned him an American Society of Landscape Architects Medal.
Contributions to International Conferences
Beyond the Pardisan project, Jahangir took on additional responsibilities for various other initiatives. He also played a significant role in several international conferences, including the “Habitat” preparatory conference at the United Nations in September 1975, an international conference in Vancouver, Canada, in May 1976, and the fourth session of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi. His participation in these events underscored the importance of respecting culture, tradition, and environmental considerations in architecture and urban planning.
Return to Poetry and Artistic Revival
Despite his significant professional responsibilities, particularly after returning to his homeland, Jahangir once again felt the poet within him reawaken, as if a fresh breath of life had been infused into his being. His renewed affection for the works of classical Persian poets like Khayyam, Saadi, Hafez, Rumi, and Shams Tabrizi, as well as modern poets like Nima Yooshij, Akhavan-Sales, Naderpour, Moshiri, and Shamlou, along with occasional interactions with literary associations and conversations with literary masters and friends, led him to compose poetry in his spare time.
Unwilling Migration and Continued Creativity
In 1979, after the Islamic Revolution, Jahangir, was forced into an unwilling migration along with his wife and two children, returning to exile in the United States. The revolution’s upheaval deeply impacted him, disrupting the foundations of his thoughts and leaving him separated from his homeland and friends, which weighed heavily on his sensitive nature. As a skilled architect and urban planner with a deep appreciation for tradition, he grappled with the profound challenges of exile. Despite this, he quickly reorganized his professional life and continued his artistic activities on a broad scale, as he had before.
Initially, Jahangir turned to self-employment, though it conflicted with his true spirit. After five years, he returned to his beloved field of architecture, resuming his artistic activities on an even larger scale. He actively participated in cultural gatherings, artistic associations, literary circles, and poetry nights. By contributing cultural articles to Persian-language publications and engaging in public speaking, he generously shared his intellectual insights with fellow lovers of literature. Furthermore, by composing poetry and submitting it to Persian-language magazines worldwide, he established his presence as a Jewish poet.
Publications and Future Works
In 1998, Jahangir published a selection of his poems under the title “Gharibaneh” (Alone and Alien). In 2003, he released his second work, “Azmoon-e Bargozidegi” (The Test of Distinction), followed by another collection of poetry, “Khata Be Kofr” (Error to Blasphemy), in 2006. He also plans to publish another book soon, titled “Tarh-ha va Pendar-ha”(Sketches and Reflections). Throughout these years, he has published his poems and other writings in Persian-language magazines in the United States whenever possible.
Find below a one of Jahangir Sedaghatfar’s poems, “Valatarin Magham”